SUPERIOR Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho on Tuesday appointed a mental health expert, Dr. Andrea M.S. Leitheiser, to conduct an examination on Lucas Taitano Manglona and Queena Ogumoro Fitial, and to report on their mental health condition in the next 30 days.
After Dr. Leitheiser has filed her report, Judge Camacho said he will schedule a competency hearing.
The judge also suspended all court proceedings in the criminal prosecution of Manglona and Fitial who were charged separately.
Manglona and Fitial, through their respective counsels, recently asked the court to dismiss the charges against the defendants for the violation of their rights to due process and speedy trial.
Manglona is accused of damaging different cars in separate incidents. He was charged with tampering with a vehicle and vandalism.
Fitial, for her part, was charged with burglary, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault, and disturbing the peace.
Manglona is represented by court-appointed attorney Anthony Aguon, while Fitial is represented by Assistant Public Defender Karie Comstock.
The Office of the Attorney General recently petitioned the CNMI Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus directing Judge Camacho to appoint a mental health expert to evaluate the two defendants.
The AG’s office also asked the high court to order Judge Camacho to vacate his previous order setting an evidentiary hearing in the cases of Manglona and Fitial, and to suspend criminal proceedings and make a determination of competency.
On May 4, the CNMI Supreme Court issued an order “inviting” Judge Camacho to address the Office of the AG’s petition for writ of mandamus.
Following Judge Camacho’s appointment of a mental health expert, the AG’s office has voluntarily requested the high court to dismiss the petition.
The Superior Court judge “voluntarily complied with the request for relief contained in the petition,” the AG’s office stated.
